The Unsearchable Riches of Christ, Pt 36

Paul’s mission to the Gentiles

Ephesians 3:1-13.

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Paul, the Jew, laboured and suffered and died that he might be faithful to his Saviour and the task him by the Lord to bring the gospel to the Gentiles. If there is one servant of Christ we should love, it is Paul the Apostle. We owe our gospel liberties to him, under God. He was given the stewardship of the grace of God toward the Gentiles nations. He endured all that he did in order to faithful carry out his stewardship. Consider what he tells us here about this matter.

I. THE GATHERING OF THE GENTILES WAS A  MYSTERY WITHHELD FROM MEN UNTIL PAUL’S DAY
1. Of course, God’s word in its entirety is a mystery to men. Mark 4:11; Rom 16:25; 1Cor 2:7; Eph 4:18. The gospel is the “mystery of Christ”, verse 4-5. Even angels were mystified, 1 Peter 1:12.
2. Some aspects of God’s truth remain a mystery to some believers. The calling of the Gentiles was a truth revealed from the beginning, Genesis 3:15, “her seed” must include Gentile nations. Gen 12:3-Gal 3:8. When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life, Acts 11:18.
3. The revealing of the mystery is by divine grace. Verses 3, 5. Revealed = unveiled. Note the chain of revelation, verses 5, 7-9.
4. God has preserved the revelation of the mysteries of grace in His Word. Verses 3-4. It is not in the “traditions of the Church” but in the inspired writings. Paul had preached in Ephesus for 3 years. He did not refer to their memories of what he said but to what he wrote.  The Bible is a book of “few words,” verse 3. Read it to understand it.